Description: The abacá plant grows without needing lots of water or pesticides, helps stop erosion, and is now being used to replace fossil fuels in clothes. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 12, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90333645/this-new-technical-fabric-replaces-polyester-with-banana-plants?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=7&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=04122019 Questions for discussion: What are the major attributes that differentiate this new product? How should managers market this new product so… Read more »

Description: The push for more effective ad targeting remains one of marketers’ chief priorities, evidenced by two reports released this year. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Apr 11, 2019 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/better-ad-targeting-remains-a-top-priority-for-marketers?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What does the research say about data gathering issues facing management? How can managers deal with the problems they face?

Description: Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal don’t even make it into Canada’s 10 most entrepreneurial cities’ list Source: FinancialPost.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://business.financialpost.com/entrepreneur/heres-the-best-canadian-city-to-start-a-small-business-in-no-its-not-toronto-or-waterloo Questions for discussion: What are some of the key criteria for identifying the “best” cities to start a small business in Canada? Why would businesses willingly pay higher taxes in… Read more »

Description: A finance professional turned entrepreneur reflects on the motherhood bias and stereotypes she faced during her return to work Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90324442/former-goldman-sachs-employee-on-the-motherhood-penalty?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=1&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=04032019 Questions for discussion: What is the “motherhood bias” according to the report? How can management deal with this social issue?

Description: Americans may start to become more ‘social’ in the way they shop for homes, one analyst thinks Source: MarketWatch.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/facebook-sets-its-sights-on-housing-should-zillow-be-worried-2019-04-03?mod=mw_theo_homepage Questions for discussion: What are the competitive advantages favoring Facebook in the real estate business? Do you think consumers will respond to Facebook advertising for housing? Explain.

Description: New York (CNN Business)General Electric is a tiny player in the booming offshore wind market. But that will change soon — and it needs to, if the company wants to outgrow its exposure to fossil fuels. One major investment that illustrates GE’s interest: The Haliade-X, the world’s largest and most powerful offshore wind turbine. Source: CNNMoney.com –… Read more »

Description: When it comes to shopping, social media seems to have somewhat limited influence on parents’ purchasing behavior—but they’ll use it (and other online resources) for researching. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/social-recommendations-influence-one-in-three-mothers-to-buy Questions for discussion: What does the report say about the influence of social media on parental behavior? What should strategic planning… Read more »

Description: From rental furniture to modular couches, the company is finding more and more ways to limit its use of raw materials. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Apr 03, 2019 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90328244/inside-ikeas-plan-to-reinvent-itself-as-a-circular-company Questions for discussion: What is driving the new business model? What are the constraints the company will have to deal with? Do you think the… Read more »

Description: Proposals to change recommendations and curb conspiracies were sacrificed for engagement, staff say. Source: Bloomberg.com Date: Apr 02, 2019 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-04-02/youtube-executives-ignored-warnings-letting-toxic-videos-run-rampant Questions for discussion: Summarize the key points made in this report related to the way management dealt with this issue. What would you advise, going forward?

Description: Kenneth Jull, counsel at Gardiner Roberts, talks about the different paths SNC-Lavalin may face with a remediation agreement. He say that there is a right and a wrong way to handle this, but Canadians need to understand the consequences of each. Source: BNNBloomberg.ca – video report Date: Mar 28, 2019 Link: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/snc-lavalin-needs-to-be-held-criminally-liable-lawyer~1646690 Questions for… Read more »